Filing device



P. M. KLEIN FILING DEVICE Oct. 30, 1962 Filed Sept. 19, 1960 INVENTOR- F5722? K227 N United States Patent Ofifice 3,051,090 Patented Oct. 30, 1962 3,061,090 FILING DEVICE Peter M. Klein, Ogdensburg, N.Y., assignor to Natser Corporation, doing business as Acco Products, Ogdensburg, N.Y., a corporation of Nevada Filed Sept. 19, 1960, Ser. No. 56,954 2 Claims. (Cl. 206-65) The invention relates to improvements in devices for filing and storing lengths of punched tape and the like and more particularly to the method of making and the structure and assembly of such device.

Punched tape obtained from data processing equipment is best retained for storage or filing by placing such tape in a holder comprised of a relatively rigid backing sheet or board, such as pressboard, having a series of mutually spaced pairs of pockets arranged thereon with the open or tape receiving ends of the pockets of each pair opposed one to the other so that opposite end portions of the tape may be inserted in the opposed pockets of each pair of pockets. This manner of holding the tapes leaves the intermediate portion of the tape extending between the engage-d pair of pockets exposed for ready manual engagement should it be desired to remove it from the storage device.

Although the specific embodiment herein disclosed may be fabricated by any suitable means, it is preferred that the pockets be comprised of transparent sheet material, such as styrene, polyvinyl, polyethylene or other thermoplastic resins, including cellophane, suitably formed and die-cut for ready attachment to the backing. Preferably, the pockets may be formed out of a single sheet of selected material formed with mutually spaced blisters as by relief molding. These blisters are substantially rectangular in outline and are all offset from the plane of the sheet in one direction.

After forming and setting, the relief molded sheets are die-cut or otherwise divided into a plurality of strips each containing a series of mutually spaced one-half blisters and a marginal planular portion at the closed ends and sides of the half blisters. Although the blisters may be cut on a straight line for producing the half blisters, it is preferred for purposes to be explained presently, to employ a flash or zig-zag type of cut for presenting a diagonal edge on the open end of each half blister. Two strips containing related half blisters then are secured adhesively, by heat sealing or otherwise, to one surface of a backing member and in spaced apart relation, with the half blisters in both strips in registering alignment one with another and with their open ends in opposed relation. The resulting article has a series of opposed spaced apart half blisters each of which constitutes one pocket of a pair of pockets each to receive one end portion of a length of tape that is arranged between them.

The tape may comprise a length commensurate with the spacing between the closed ends of the pockets or it may be of considerably greater length folded over upon itself or into an accordion fold, or otherwise, so as to reduce it to a requisite length to be received and retained in the pockets. Obviously, the backing member may be of such size as will accommodate a desired number of pairs of opposed pockets spaced apart a required distance determined by the etfective length of the pieces of tape to be filed. Also, by flash zig-zag cutting of the blisters, the free opposed edges of the pairs of pockets will be out of parallel with the usual straight end edge of the tape inserted therein, thus facilitating the threading of the tape ends into the pockets.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a novel filing and storage device for lengths of tape.

Another object is to provide a novelty constructed filing and storage device.

Another object is to provide a tape filing and storage device with a plurality of opposed pairs of pockets for the reception of the end portions of lengths of tape.

Another object is to provide a tape filing and storage device of the character referred to with transparent pockets.

Another object is to provide a filing and storage device of the character referred to wherein the pockets thereof have angularly disposed free edges.

Another object is to provide a novel method and means for forming pockets particularly adapted for use in a device of the character referred to.

Another object is to provide a device of the character referred to which is not expensive or difiicult to manufacture, is easy to use and positive in its use, and which is very eflicient.

With the foregoing and such other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention, consists of certain novel features of construction, arrangment, and combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the method of manufacture, form, proportion, size and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in which the same characters of reference are employed to identify corresponding parts:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a sheet relief molded to provide a series of mutually spaced blisters therein.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail fragmentary section-a1 view of the molded sheet, taken substantially on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of a strip of half blisters severed from the FIG. 1 sheet.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of a backing having blister pockets formed of a pair of half blister strips secured on one face thereof.

FIG. 5 is a sectional detail view taken substantially on line 55 of FIG. 4. I

FIG. 6 is an edge view of a length of tape accordion folded for filing in the device.

FIG. 7 is an edge view of a length of tape folded over upon itself for filing in the device.

Referring to the exemplary disclosure in the accompanying drawings, and particularly to FIG. 4, the device for the filing and storage of lengths of punched tape comprises a backing sheet 11 which preferably is a sheet of relatively rigid material, such as pressboard, and of a size commensurate to its intended capacity. A series of longitudinally spaced pockets 12 is mounted firmly on each longitudinal margin of one face of said backing. These pockets are arranged in opposed pairs with a pocket in one series of pockets in registering alignment with a pocket in the other series of pockets and the pockets in each series are spaced apart one from the other to provide an intervening space of gap between them of a length commensurate with the effective length of the pieces of tape to be stored therein.

In use, one or more pieces of tape 13, either in the flat form shown in FIG. 4, or folded substantially as illustrated at 13a and 13b in FIGS. 6 and 7 respectively, is inserted in each pair of opposed pockets. When so arranged, the end portions of the tape are telescoped into the respective pairs of pockets with their intermediate areas bridging the gap between them. Owing to the exposed or unrestrained intermediate areas of the tapes, said tapes may beconveniently held manually while inserting their end portions in the pockets and they may readily be engaged manually when it is desired to withdraw them from the pockets.

The pockets 12 preferably formed a manner that can best be explained by reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. As there shown, a sheet 14 of suitable material such as, for example, styrene, polyvinyl, polyethylene, or like material, is relief molded or otherwise formed to provide one row, or as shown, a plurality of spaced apart rows, of mutually spaced substantially rectangular offsets or blisters 15. In the present disclosure the blisters are ofiset from the plane of the sheet about .125", although they may be shallower or deeper as required for a specific use adaptation. Since such manner of molding is old in the arts no detailed explanation of its process is attempted here.

After the sheet has been relief molded and set, the sheet, if it contains a plurality of rows of blisters as shown, is cut, preferably by die cutting, along parallel lines 16 so as to separate each row of blisters 15 into independent strips 17. At the same time, or subsequent to cutting along lines 16, the blister strips are reduced to half blister strips 18 (FIG. 3) by cutting same in a direction longitudinally of each row substantially midway between their closed ends 19, as along lines 21. Preferably, the line of cut 21 is not straight but is of zig-zag configuration so that the resulting free edge 22 (FIG. 3) of each half blister is dis posed angularly for a purpose to be explained presently. Two half blister strips 18 are now attached to the backing sheet in an association and manner now to be described.

Referring specifically to FIGS. 4 and 5, the related half blister strips 18 are laid one over each longitudinal marginal surface on one face of the backing sheet with their planular margins 23 and intermediate areas 24 in face to face contact with the backing sheet and the free edges 22 of the half blisters facing inwardly, one toward the other. The strips then are secured firmly to the backing sheet. This securement may be accomplished by any known means but preferably the effected surface areas of the backing sheet are pre-coated with an adhesive 25 '(FIG. such as, for example, any good heat sealing adhesive and the strips 18 are heat sealed thereto in the usual manner.

The resulting assembly comprises a backing sheet having a plurality of pairs of opposed pockets 12, each pair being adapted to receive one or more lengths of tape 13 to be stored or filed. Owing to the angular disposition of the free edges 22 of the pockets, insertion of a tape is effected much more easily than were the edges perpendicular to the direction of insertion.

It should be understood that the backing sheet may be of any size to hear such number of pairs of pockets as may be required for a specific use and that a multitude of 4 rows of pairs of opposed po'ckets may be provided, and on one or both faces of the backing sheet; and further, that a plurality of sheets having pockets thereon may be loosely or permanently bound in a file folder or the like.

As many possible embodiments may be made in the invention, and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings it is to be understood that all matters hereinbefore set forth or disclosed are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A filing device comprising, in combination, a relatively rigid backing sheet, a first row of integrally connected mutually spaced pockets forming members secured to one surface; of said sheet, a complemental second row of integrally connected mutually spaced pocket forming members secured to said surface of said sheet in spaced relation to and parallel with said first row of pocket forming members, the pocket forming members in each row being in registering alignment, and the open ends of the pockets in said first row facing the open ends of the pockets in the second row, said open ends being disposed at an angle relative to the length of the strip and parallel to each other.

2. A filing device comprising a relatively rigid backing, a first strip of transparent material secured to one surface of said backing, a second strip of transparent material secured to said surface and spaced from the first strip, a plurality of longitudinally spaced substantially rectangular oflsets in each strip extending in a direction away from the surface" of the backing and terminating inwardly of one edge of the strip, the offsets in one strip being in registering alignment with 'complemental offsets in the other strip, and the offsets in each strip opening onto the other edges of the said strips and each having its free edge disposed at an angle relative to said other edge of the strip and parallel to each other, said ofisets and backing defining opposed pockets.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,801,751 Mills Apr. 21, 1931 2,298,421 Salfisberg Oct. 13, 1942 2,549,513 Nicolle Apr. 17, 1951 2,690,593 Abercrombie Oct. 5, 1954 2,898,257 Carver Aug. 4, 1959 2,963,150 Dgetluck Dec. 6, 1960 

